Mish Mash Zig Zag and Drizzle Stitch

I used two different green fabrics in today's block, plus a rerun of the brown woodgrain.  It looks like three green fabrics, but the dots all came from the same fat quarter - it has different variations of color.

This morning I sat down (with great concentration!) to learn the Drizzle Stitch.  This is the second Sue Spargo block (that was number 3 I showed yesterday).  When I got to the point of learning this new stitch on this block a couple of weeks ago, I had a headache and my brain wouldn't work well enough to figure it out.  Today it came more easily.  But the first stitch I made was ugly - see that knobby pink thing sticking out above?

I cut it off and tried again.  Okay, I think I've got it now!  Four down, MANY to go.....  This will be my TV activity tonight.

Today I went to a newcomers' luncheon - women only.  I really had a great time!  I met more interesting women and think I'll get involved in this group.  In fact, I signed up for so many mini-groups that I may be overdoing it!  What did I sign up for?  Let's see.  A book club.  Canasta.  Nope, I've never played Canasta in my life.  Bridge 101.  Nope, I've never played Bridge before either.  But they said they'd teach me.  There is another Bridge group for serious players.  The Bridge 101 group is very low key and non competitive.  I'll try anything once.  If I don't like it, I'll cross it off the list.  They also have a Let's Go Exploring group, a Mahjong group, and maybe something else.

Don't worry - I'll still make time for quilting!  It's my priority!

Lizard Lips Prince didn't catch anything today.  If fact, I never even saw a lizard, though he certainly looked.  I think they've all migrated across the street.

Back to Work

Today's block:  solid red and black with dots.  Wonderful contrast - this block definitely shouts out loud.

When I run the fabric through my Accuquilt, I never cut exactly 9 triangles from each fabric.  So I now have a big pile of pre-cut triangles.  For the next few days I'm going to make use of them, mixing and matching them differently to make more zigzags.  So that will save me 10 minutes per day!

So what else is new around here?  We have lots of lizards around this house - outside, thankfully!  The dogs are definitely intrigued obsessed with them.  Especially Prince.  Every time I let them out, Prince is immediately on the prowl.  Today was the day.  He caught one.  Yes, he did.  He ate it.  Yes, he did. Poor lizard.  RIP.  I like lizards.  They eat bugs.  I don't like bugs.

Stove Up and Sniffing

Here's block 3 of the Sue Spargo BOM.  Almost done with the appliqué.  Almost ready to embellish!  I'm feeling good about this progress even though block 2 equates to March and we are in August.  I'm getting there.....

I didn't get a zigzag block sewn yesterday.  I did pick out the fabric and cut the pieces.  It was one busy day with lots of errands and miscellany to accomplish.

Hubby and I went to a newcomers' dinner last night.  Have you ever joined a newcomers' group?  We were expecting:

1.  People (like us) who have just moved to the area.
2.  People from all age groups.

We had a good time, but we did not find what we expected.  I think we were the only ones present who had recently moved to Auburn.  And almost without exception, the crowd was all retirees.  They were all very nice and we met some interesting people.

The most embarrassing thing about the evening was my allergy attack.  As soon as I sat down at the table (we were at a local restaurant), I found myself clogging up.  Uh oh.  Didn't bring any kleenex.  I sneezed and sniffed and blew my nose through the ENTIRE dinner.  There was a bucket of red napkins on the table and I quickly made my way through them.

I didn't want to put the used ones on the table, so by the time dinner was over I had a huge pile hidden in my lap.  I discreetly stashed them on hubby's plate and quickly covered them with my plate - at the end of the meal, of course.  :)

Today is the day I finally make an appointment with an allergist to figure out exactly WHAT I'm allergic to and how I can control it.  I find I spend about 1/3 of my life dealing with allergy attacks!

Before the dinner, hubby and I stopped by a local store to pick up some dining room chairs we had ordered.  He did all the heavy lifting.  But one time I leaned over to adjust a chair cover, and OUCH!  Pulled a muscle in my back!  So as we say in the South, I'm a bit 'stove up.'

The good news is that this morning the allergies have calmed down! Yay!  I'm still stove up, but moving around helps so I'm ready to dive in and accomplish LOTS!

Ugly or Not?

I can't decide whether this fabric is uber ooo-gly or beautiful.  I certainly would wear it!  But cut up for a quilt it could be nice.  I paired it with the yellow in the lower right hand corner.

The block turned out nice!  But do you notice anything interesting about it?  Click on the picture to see it closer.  Go ahead.  I'll wait....

That's right!  I didn't have enough of the yellow!  I had to MAKE DO!  I found a batik with similar coloring and used it for two of the half square triangles.  I think I like this making do stuff!

And a group shot.  Coming along nicely, I think.  It takes me about 30 minutes to make one block: 10 minutes to select fabric, press it, cut it with my Accuquilt Studio.  Then 20 minutes to sew it together.

I also spent some time today working on a Sue Spargo block - I'll show that tomorrow hopefully.  Tonight I have a nice pile of handwork at the ready:  Sue Spargo block and some lovely hexie making!

Zigzags and Hexies

Another day, another zigzag block.  Pink and a gray floral.  I like both the fabrics and yes, I would normally put these together.  Finally a pretty block!

And hexies!  I made these this afternoon and will make more tonight.  Love this fabric by Malka Dubrawsky!

What a lovely afternoon to sew - bright, sunny, not too humid.  Though I love to sew no matter what the weather is doing outside!

I've come to a halt in my unpacking.  Everything is out of the boxes, but not everything is put away.  Maybe this week I'll be in the mood to organize.  Baby steps.

Never did find my bike helmet, the antique sewing machine, or the fabric.  They must have ended up at someone else's house.  Maybe they're with the people who were supposed to get the old console TV that the movers delivered with the rest of our stuff - no, we don't have a console TV!  We sent it back on the moving truck.  I'll file a claim for the missing items this week.

Hope you had a happy, relaxing weekend!

Proud Mama!

I try not to post too much here about our daughters - they are both adults and deserve their privacy.  But today I had to share - sorry girls!  On the left is Daughter 1 (Emily), a Software Engineer who is doing so well at her job.  And on the right is Daughter 2 (Elizabeth), who today received her White Coat in a ceremony for the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University.  So proud of you both!

Today's zigzag:  green and pink.  Both are nice fabrics, but I wouldn't ordinarily put them together.  This block has much less contrast than the others - I needed some blocks that didn't shout.  This one whispers.  Sorry for the dirty ironing surface background - I was still working on my design wall.

Someone asked how big the half square triangle are:  each finishes at 3 inches, so the block finishes at 9 inches.

Math????

Yes, indeedy!  Had to do a bit of math today to figure out measurements on a piece of fabric.  No, I did not remember the formulas for 30-60-90 degree triangles from my 9th grade geometry!  Thank goodness for Google!  I figured it out - it's a weird measurement, but at least I know how to cut the fabric.

One of today's projects was to give a nip and tuck to my design wall.  In the course of the move, the gridded flannel had loosened.  So I put it upside down in the floor and restapled around the edges.  Of course, half way through I ran out of staples!  I know I have some somewhere, but I couldn't find them.  Just because we're unpacked, it doesn't mean we're organized!  I ran to the grocery store this afternoon to get more - so that project will continue tomorrow.

And the zigzag block of the day.  These are BOTH very ooo-gly fabrics!  Gold sunflowers and purple and black checkerboards!

And here's the group photo.  Looking pretty good.

MAKING DO Report:
So far, so good.  I haven't bought any fabric - haven't even been tempted.  My rotary cutter blade  is getting dull and I have no more.  May have to spring for a pack next week.